C Major Scale

What You'll Learn

The formula for a major scale isWholeWholeHalfWholeWholeWholeHalf. AWhole Toneon the guitar means 2 frets. AHalfmeans 1 fret. That is what theW W H W W W Hrepresents in the above image.

AWhole Tonecan also be called aTone. (Tone = Whole Tone = 2 frets)
AHalf Tonecan also be called aSemitone. (Semitone = Half Tone = 1 fret)

Here are the notes and guitar tab of the C major scale on one string. This will help you see the spaces between notes.

Notice that there is only one fret or one semitone between E and F and B and C.

Notice the spacing between each note in the scale. It is that spacing that makes this a major scale.

From C to D is 2 frets (Whole step)
From D to E is 2 frets (Whole step)
From E to F is 1 fret (Half step)
From F to G is 2 frets (Whole step)
From G to A is 2 frets (Whole step)
From A to B is 2 frets (Whole step)
From B to C is 1 fret (Half step)

C Major Scale Degrees

Scale degrees are the individual notes given a number to represent their position within the scale.

The first degree of a scale is called the tonic, and the other degrees are named based on their relationship to the tonic.

C = Tonic – The first degree of a scale is called the tonic.
D = Supertonic – The second degree is called the supertonic.
E = Mediant – The third is called the mediant.
F = Subdominant – The fourth is called the subdominant.
G = Dominant – The fifth is called the dominant.
A = Submediant – The sixth is called the submediant.
B = Leading tone – The seventh is called the leading tone.
C = Octave or Tonic – The eighth is called the octave or tonic.

Scale degrees are used to describe melodies and harmonies and to analyze the structure of musical pieces. They can be represented by Roman numerals, with the tonic being represented by the number “I” and the other degrees being represented by the numbers “II” through “VII.” In addition to the major scale, there are also scale degrees for other types of scales, such as the natural minor scale, the harmonic minor scale, and the melodic minor scale.

C Major Intervals

We just learned that the notes in the scale have specific names (Tonic, Supertonic, Mediant, Subdoninant, Dominant, Submediant, Leading Tone, Tonic or Octave.

The distance between those notes also have specifc names. These are called intervals.

Unison– First note to itself. Tonic to Tonic.
Major 2nd(M2) – First note to second note in the major scale. Tonic to Supertonic. (2 frets or 1 Tone.)
Major 3rd(M3) – First note to third note.Tonic to Mediant. (4 frets or 4 semitones.)
Perfect 4th(P4) – First note to fourth note.Tonic to Submediant. (5 frets or 5 semitones.)
Perfect 5th(P5) – First note to fifth note.Tonic to Dominant. (7 frets or 7 semitones.)
Major 6th(M6) – First note to sixth note.Tonic to Submediant. (9 frets or 9 semitones.)
Major 7th(M7) – First note to seventh note.Tonic to Leading Tone. (11 frets or 11 semitones.)
Octave(Oct) – First note to the same note one ocatave higher.Tonic to Octave. (12 frets or 12 semitones)

While knowing the names can be helpful, it’s much more important to understand the sounds of the intervals. This exercise below well help you to hear the differences in the intervals.

C Major Triads

All the main triads or 3-note chords in C major can be derived from the scale. To build triad chords for any note in any scale:

You just add 2 notes up, twice. Going up 2 notes in a scale is going up a third. So you add a third to the first note, then another third to the note you just added. It’s easier to see below.

The first triad isC major: C E G(The 1st, 3rd and 5th note of the scale.)
The second triad isD minor: D F A(The 2nd, 4th, and 6th note of the scale.)
The third triad isE minor: E G B(The 3rd, 5th, and 7th note of the scale.)
The fourth triad is Fmajor F G A(The 4th, 6th, and 8th note of the scale.)
The fifth triad isG major G B D(The 5th, 7th, and 2nd note of the scale.)
The sixth triad isA minor A C E(The 6th, 1st, and 3rd note of the scale.) – Notice that A minor has 2 notes that are the same a C Major.
The seventh triad isB minor diminishedor B min° (The 7th, 2nd, and 4th note of the scale.)

The best way to learn this is by playing. Try out this C major triad exercise on one string just like the first scale example above. All of these chords are derived from the notes in the C major scale.

Notice that the chord shapes for the major chords are all the same. (C F G)
The three minor chords have a slightly different shape. The second note is shifted back one fret. (Dm Em Am)
The 7th triad of the scale is special. It is called diminished (dim) and it has its own chord shape. (B dim)

You might be wondering what makes these chords major, minor or diminished. That would be a great question!
The answer is simply the number of frets between the notes. These are called intervals. Each of those intervals has a specific name.

To help you see the number of semitones between each of the notes in the triads, I’ll show them all on one chart.

The difference between a major and minor chord is determined by the interval, or distance, between the root note and the third. In a major chord, the interval between the root and the third is a major third, which consists of four semitones or half steps. In a minor chord, the interval between the root and the third is a minor third, which consists of three semitones or half steps.

A major chord consists of the root note or tonic , a major third, and a perfect fifth. For example, a C major chord has the notes C, E, and G.

E is 4 frets or semitones above C. That is a major third.

G is 7 frets or semitones above C. That is a perfect fifth.

A minor chord, on the other hand, is a chord that has a minor third, instead of a major third. This might sound complicated but it’s just moving one fret down on the second note of a major chord.

For example, a C minor chord is C, E♭, and G. Minor chords tend to sound darker, sadder, and more serious.

In the previous image, you can see the major triads (C major, F major and G Major) have their second note 4 semitones or frets above the first note. The major triads are the 1st, 4th, and 5th of the scale. That is why the I-IV-V chord progression is so common in popular music, but more on that later.

The 3 minor triads (D minor, D minor and A minor) all have their second notes 3 semitones or frets above the first note.

What Does It Mean to Play in the Key of C?

Playing in the key of C means that the music is centered around the C note. In other words, C is the tonic, or root pitch, of the music. This means that the music is likely to use a lot of the notes from the C major scale, which consists of C, D, E, F, G, A, and B.

For example, in the key of C major, the tonic (root or first) chord is C major and the dominant (fifth) chord is G major. These chords will usually play a strong role in the harmony of the music and help to establish the key. The other chords in the key of C major are D minor, E minor, F major, and A minor.

Chord Progressions in C Major

Some popular chord progressions in C major include:

I – V – vi – IV (the “I – V – vi – IV” progression, also known as the “50s progression”)
I – IV – V (the “I – IV – V” progression, also known as the “I – IV – V” progression)
I – vi – IV – V (the “I – vi – IV – V” progression, also known as the “Do Re Mi” progression)

These progressions are commonly used in pop, rock, and folk music and are known for their catchy, upbeat sound. They can be used to create a wide range of musical styles, from upbeat and energetic to more laid-back and relaxed.

Other popular chord progressions in C major include:

I – V – vi (the “I – V – vi” progression, also known as the “1 – 5 – 6m” progression)
I – ii – iii – IV – V (the “I – ii – iii – IV – V” progression, also known as the “I – ii – iii – IV – V” progression)

These progressions are also commonly used in a wide range of musical styles and can create a variety of moods and atmospheres.

What is the Relative Minor of C Major?

Relative scales are major and natural minor scales that share the same notes and chords. That means they are in the same key signature but start on a different note.

(There are different types of minor scales. That is why it is mentioned as a natural minor scale. For this page, A minor is referring to natural A minor.)

The relative minor ofC majorisA minor.
The relative major ofA minorisC major.

A natural minorscale has the same key signature asC major(no sharps or flats), but a different tonic (starting note).

A minor scale: A, B, C, D, E, F, G

C major scale: C, D, E, F, G, A, B

For anymajor scale, the minor scale starts and ends on the sixth scale degree or note of the C major scale.
C, D, E, F, G,A, B

For anyminor scale, themajor scalestarts and ends on the 3rd scale degree or note.

A, B,C, D, E, F, G

Relative scales share the same notes, but the notes and chords you emphasize are very different.

InC major, you would focus on aC majorchord progression or melody.

If you are playing inA minor, you would focus on aA minorchord progression or melody.

IMPORTANT:This is a really important concept to understand. You can play the exact same chords and notes but it can have a very different feel and sound depending on the chords and notes you focus on.

The best way to understand this is to hear. Try out the following scales and chords.

How to Find the Relative Minor on Guitar

You can find the relative minor of any major chord on the guitar by sliding your finger back 3 frets.

Modes Of The C Major Scale

Modes in the Key of C major all use the same notes as the C major scale, but start on a different note. For example, to play the D dorian mode, start on the D and then play the all notes of the C Major scale. To play the F lydian mode, start on the F note and then play all the notes of the C Major scale.

Here are the 7 modes in the key of C Major:

C Ionian(C Major) – C D E F G A B
D Dorian– D E F G A B C
E Phrygian– E F G A B C D
F Lydian– F G A B C D E
G Mixolydian– G A B C D E F
A Aeolian– A B C D E F G
B Locrian– B C D E F G A

You might be wondering, if these are all the same notes, why do modes matter?
Each mode has a different sound or overall tone and they are different than the major and minor scales of the same notes.
For example, D Dorian doesn’t equal D major or D minor. They are different scales.

C Major Scale - Chords and Theory (2024)